2024-12-31-accounts - Strand Community Trust

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STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD Charity Number: 1137694 Company Number: 06559331

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

CONTENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

	Page
Legal and Administrative Information	1
Trustees Annual Report	2-4
Independent Examiners Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Balance Sheet	7
Notes to the financial statements	8-14

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Trustees	Barrie Cooper
	D Hingston
	A Pemberton
	P Lentle
	C Foullon
	S Mackay
	S Williams
Contact Address & c/o	The Strand Church
	32 The Strand
	Dawlish
	Devon
	EX7 9PT
	The charity is incorporated in England and Wales
Company Registration Number	06559331
Charity Registration Number	1137694
Independent Examiner	Community360
	Winsley's House
	High Street
	Colchester
	Essex, CO1 1UG

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2024 was a year of building on the foundations put down the previous year. The support and activities that the Trust has been able to offer have increased thanks to considerable efforts from our Cafe and Centre Manager, our dedicated volunteers, and the work of the Trustees. The Centre became a registered ‘Place of Welcome’ and ‘Warm Space’ in April and October 2024, respectively, both giving the Centre more visibility and recognition, but also providing Trustees with the source of useful guidance to review some key documents such as the safeguarding and EDI policies. Grant writing and successes have provided much-needed funds to enable this enhanced provision, and the arrival of the Banking Hub provided another key community service and has helped to improve the finances of the Trust.

In December 2023, we submitted and were granted a ‘Food Fuel and More’ award of nearly £18k from the Devon Community Foundation to support ethnic minority, disabled, and homeless households with food, energy bills, warm clothes and bedding … provided we could spend it within three months! Marie and Paul did an excellent job getting the support to the most in need, and Dave did sterling work keeping track of all the receipts and spending. We were later awarded a top up to £25k for our first grant from the Devon Community Foundation. Our £25k grant allowed us to reach 214 individuals in less than 3 months, including 40 families with children, 6 pensioner households, and 36 households with disabled members. We’ve also expanded provisions for homeless individuals as their numbers continued to grow (from about 20 to 30 in the last year). Due to our impact, we received an additional £15k to spend by October 2024. This provision was a literal lifeline to households struggling with the cost of living, and we have also invested in essential provisions for our homeless clients. It has been a challenge to transition back to supporting people without this funding being available - the cost-of-living crisis is still a reality for many people and those pressures are only growing.

Our year as a Co-op partner charity was very fruitful both financially and building relationships. Sarah Spencer has coordinated this for Co-op and she is fostering a local network of events and organisations. More than £2k was provided by members choosing us as their nominated charity and this has helped us to develop and subsidise a programme of Saturday evening events throughout the year. We were also fortunate enough to win the main prize of £5k in the Co-op charity draw. We have invested this in improving our AV facilities, including purchasing a professional-quality speaker and mixer, and more recently in 2025 an ultra-UD projector.

The year also saw the culmination of long-term efforts from Paul to bring banking services back to Dawlish. Negotiations in early 2024 saw Cash Access UK agree to lease the Strand Hall and they took occupation in the summer. This has mostly been a blessing, but there have been challenges, including the loss of the Hall as a community space, and some of the groups that met there have had to close or go elsewhere. As of August 2025, the banking hub is still in the Hall and is providing an essential community service.

Claire continues to identify and lead on many grant proposals and we wish to offer special thanks for all her efforts. It has been a very successful year with grants, but key to this is both the quality and quantity of submissions - there have also been many rejections!

We were not successful with our application for energy saving works, but this gave us useful information to carry on applying for energy-efficient improvements. In the autumn, we received donations of washing appliances and a prize award from the Hall and Woodhouse Community Chest to support our shower and hygiene support project in aid of the homeless. In November and December 2024, we were chosen to be Lidl’s Toy Bank charity for their Teignmouth store, and we were overwhelmed by the generosity shown by customers so that local children could have an

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

unforgettable Christmas! We also received Devon County Council (Growing Communities Fund) funding for our festive provision over the Christmas period, including the ever-popular Christmas Day lunch.

Many of these successes and activities have continued in 2025. One notable success has been the Garfield Weston Foundation agreeing to cover £10k of running costs for two years from January 2025 - twice what we actually applied for and incredible recognition of the amazing work that the Trust does in the community. We have since also been awarded £5k running costs from Comic Relief, as well as other more targeted grants for specific projects.

There have been some new challenges also. The heating failed in part of the Centre at the end of 2024, which has caused numerous issues and is still in the process of being resolved. We have had problems with the Auditorium flooring, and we are concerned about rising energy costs and the impact on Trust finances. We have tried to absorb as much of the price increases as possible so that we can continue to be an affordable community “Warm Space” and “Place of Welcome”. With support needs remaining high and the likely loss of the Banking Hub in 2025, we are going to have to make difficult decisions about how to ensure Trust finances remain healthy so that we can continue to be “Help at the Heart of the Community” in Dawlish.

Statement of the Directors' and Trustees' Responsibilties

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Notwithstanding the explicit requirement in the extant statutory regulations,the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the SORP 2005, in view of the fact that the SORP 2005 has been withdrawn, the Trustees determined to interpret this responsibility as requiring them to follow current best practice and prepare the accounts according to the FRS 102 SORP (Statement of

Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by Charities) 2015, (as amended by the Bulletin issued in February 2016), (The SORP).

In particular, the Companies Act 2006 and charity law require the Board of Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Board is required to :-

to prepare the accounts in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business;
state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The law requires that the trustees must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for the year.

The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees' report, and the accountant preparing the accounts has no responsibilities in relation to the Trustees' report.

Signed: Date: 30/10/2025 Trustee David Hingston

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

I report on the accounts of Strand Community Trust LTD for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 5 to 13.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (The Act) but that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considerations of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

David Courtier FMAAT AATQB for and on behalf of: Community360 DD Winsley’s House, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UG

Date 31/10/2025

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes Incoming resources Incoming resources from generating funds: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Fundraising income 4 Total incoming resources Resources expended Costs of charitable activities 5 Total resources expended Net income/(expense) before transfers Transfers between funds Net income/(expense) Reconciliation of funds Total Funds B/Fwd Total Funds C/Fwd	2024 £ 22,689 76,361 2,907 Unrestricted Funds	2024 £ 40,000 - - Restricted Funds	2024 2023 £ £ 62,689 22,315 76,361 70,561 2,907 1,004 141,956 93,879 138,293 93,224 138,293 93,224 3,663 655 - - 3,663 655 10,888 10,233 14,551 10,888 Total Funds Prior period Total Funds
	101,956 98,293	40,000 40,000
	98,293	40,000
	3,663 -	- -
	3,663 7,898	- 2,990
	11,561	2,990

Notes on pages 8 to 14 form an integral part of these accounts.

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

		2024	2023
	Notes	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	12	-	-
Current assets
Debtors	13	1,087	1,087
Cash at bank and in hand		27,510	17,201
		28,597	18,288
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	14	10,400	400
Net current assets/(liabilities)		18,197	17,888
Total assets less current liabilities		18,197	17,888
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year	15	3,646	7,000

Net assets		14,551	10,888
Funds of the charity:
Restricted funds	16	2,990	2,990
Unrestricted income funds	16	11,561	7,898
Total funds		14,551	10,888

For the financial year ending 31 December 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Signed ____ Date ___31/10/2025

David Hingston Trustee

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies

Policies relating to the production of the accounts.

Basis of preparation and accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared on the accruals basis, under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Cash Flow

The financial statements do not include a cash flow statement because the charity, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under Financial Reporting Standard 1 "Cash flow statements".

Policies relating to categories of income and income recognition

Nature of income

Gross income represents the value, net of value added tax and discounts, of goods provided to customers and work carried out in respect of services provided to customers.

Income recognition

Income, whether from exchange or non exchange transactions, is recognised in the statement of financial activities (SOFA) on a receivable basis, when a transaction or other event results in an increase in the charity’s assets or a reduction in its liabilities and only when the charity has legal entitlement, the income is probable and can be measured reliably.

Income subject to terms and conditions which must be met before the charity is entitled to the resources is not recognised until the conditions have been met.

All income is accounted for gross, before deducting any related fees or costs.

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Income from legacies

Income from legacies is recognised when the charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them, that where required, probate has been granted, the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate, that it is probable that the amount will be received by the charity, and the amount to be received can be estimated with sufficient accuracy, and that any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity or have been met.

Donated goods, facilities and services

Donated fixed assets are recognised at the current fair value. All such donations are recognised as donation income, and debited to fixed assets.

Donated goods that are not fixed assets are accounted for at a fair value, unless it is impractical to reliably measure the value of the donated items.

In the absence of any direct evidence of fair value of donated goods, then a value is derived from the cost of the item to the donor or, in the case of goods that are expected to be sold, the estimated resale value after deducting any anticipated costs of sales.

If it is impracticable to measure the fair value of goods donated for resale, or the costs of valuation outweigh the benefits, the donated goods are recognised as income when sold, with an equivalent amount being recognised as an expense.

Policies relating to expenditure on goods and services provided to the charity

Recognition of liabilities and expenditure

A liability, and the related expenditure, is recognised when a legal or constructive obligation exists as a result of a past event, and when it is more likely than not that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and when the amount of the obligation can be measured or reliably estimated.

Liabilities arising from future funding commitments and constructive obligations, including performance related grants, where the timing or the amount of the future expenditure required to settle the obligation are uncertain, give rise to a provision in the accounts, which is reviewed at the accounting year end. The provision is increased to reflect any increases in liabilities, and is decreased by the utilisation of any provision within the period, and reversed if any provision is no longer required. These movements are charged or credited to the respective funds and activities to which the provision relates.

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustee's discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

2. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted 2024 £ Donations receivable 22,344 Grants 345 22,689 2023 Total 22,315 3. Income from charitable activities Unrestricted 2024 £ Letting of property 27,686 Inspire café 48,344 Other income 331 76,361 2023 Total 70,561 4. Fundraising income Unrestricted 2024 £ Events 2,907 2,907 2023 Total 1,004	Restricted 2024 £ - 40,000 40,000 - Restricted 2024 £ - - - - - Restricted 2024 £ - - -	Total 2024 £ 22,344 40,345 62,689 22,315 Total 2024 £ 27,686 48,344 331 76,361 70,561 Total 2024 £ 2,907 2,907 1,004	Total 2023 £ 22,315 -
			22,315
			Total 2023 £ 21,689 41,964 6,908
			70,561
			Total 2023 £ 1,004
			1,004

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

5. Expenditure on charitable activities Charitable activity - direct costs Gross wages & salaries Pension costs Café costs Direct project costs Charitable activity - support costs (note 8) Total 2023 Total 6. Analysis of support costs Premises expenses Rates and water charges Light, heat & power Cleaning & waste management Premises repairs, renewals & maintenance Property insurance Administrative expenses Telephone, fax & internet Printing, postage & stationery Hire of equipment Accountancy costs Previous year adjustment Bank charges and loan interest Sundry expenses Financial costs Depreciation Total support costs 2023 Total	Unrestricted 2024 £ 25,116 1,486 37,057 5,652 28,983	Restricted 2024 £ - - - 40,000 - 40,000 - Restricted 2024 £ - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total 2024 £ 25,116 1,486 37,057 45,652 28,983 138,293 88,263 Total 2024 £ 998 10,264 2,420 7,529 1,227 513 353 701 - (1,458) 1,242 5,193 - 28,983 32,128	Total 2023 £ 20,184 1,104 30,420 9,389 32,128
	98,293			93,224
				Total 2023 £ 914 9,602 1,820 6,239 1,166 1,097 299 701 400 - 2,661 7,229 -
	93,224
	Unrestricted 2024 £ 998 10,264 2,420 7,529 1,227 513 353 701 - (1,458) 1,242 5,193 -
	28,983			32,128

	32,128

The previous year adjustment in 2024 relates to loan repayments that were allocated to the profit and loss account, and not to the long term creditor balance. A correction has therefore been made in this financial year.

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

7. Governance costs Independent examiner fees: Examination of the financial statements 8. Net incoming/outgoing resources Net incoming resources for the year include: Depreciation of fixed assets	Total 2024 £ 400 400 Total 2024 £ -	Total 2023 £ 400
		400
		Total 2023 £
		-

9. Trustees remuneration and expenses

No other trustees has received any benefits or remuneration from the charity during the year.

10. Staff Staff employed No staff earned more than £60,000 during the year.	2024 1	2023
		1

11. Going Concern

The trustees of the charity deem that there are sufficient funds available to continue operating on a going concern basis for the forseeable future

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

12. Tangible fixed assets Cost As at 1 January 2024 Disposals Additions As at 31 December 2024 Depreciation As at 1 January 2024 Disposals Charge for the year At 31 December 2024 Net book values At 31 December 2024 At 31 December 2023 13. Debtors Other debtors 14. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Accruals Deferred income 15. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Long term creditors	Plant & Machinery £ 33,608 - - 33,608 33,608 - - 33,608 - - 2024 Total £ 1,087 1,087 2024 Total £ 400 10,000 10,400 2024 Total £ 3,646 3,646	Total £ 33,608 - -
		33,608
		33,608 - -
		33,608

		-

		-
		2023 Total £ 1,087
		1,087
		2023 Total £ 400 -
		400
		2023 Total £ 7,000
		7,000

STRAND COMMUNITY TRUST LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

16. Funds Balance at 1 January 2024 Unrestricted funds General funds 7,898 Total unrestricted funds 7,898 Restricted funds Needy fund 1,433 Big Lottery - Devon Community Foundation - Other 1,557 Total restricted funds 2,990 Total Funds 10,888	Incoming resources 101,956 101,956 - - 40,000 - 40,000 141,956	Resources expended (98,293)	Balance at 31 December Transfers 2024 - 11,561 - 11,561 - 1,433 - - - - - 1,557 - 2,990 - 14,551
		(98,293)
		- - (40,000) -
		(40,000)

		(138,293)